Jordan is an advocate, a valued member of the workforce who often speaks at events and conferences in support of other learning disabled adults. He has gone from being supported to doing the supporting. He has shared his expertise and his schooling experiences with A24.
Primary School
Jordan attended an average sized mainstream primary school along with around four hundred and fifty other pupils. There were thirty children in his class, most of whom he would call friends. His physiologist wanted him to go to an ASN school but his family fought for him to be at that mainstream school.
He had the same classroom assistant throughout his primary years. He liked all his teachers and found the work understandable. His classroom assistant helped him with reading. She also kept him focused and concentrating. He did all his own writing and maths work. The only other support he had was in the form of a footstool.
His assistant also worked in the school office which he found to be helpful because it meant she was not in the playground with him which allowed him free time with his classmates. He had lots of friends and has many happy memories of his primary years.
Secondary School
Secondary school was a slightly different story. He only had support during certain classes which helped him concentrate better. Some other children also had support such as a scribe and facilitator. He didn’t feel any different from the rest. He had numerous different support assistants over his time there which he struggled with a little. He had extra support during his tests and had an option to attend an afterschool homework club.
He lost touch with his friends from primary school and while he got on well with most people he didn’t feel that he made many friends. That said he did meet his best friend at secondary school. He wished he had more friends though.
He did well in his first lot of exams but his studies were disrupted in fifth and sixth year due to prolonged stays in hospital. Someone came to the hospital to support his studies there. On his return to school he used a wheelchair. He self propelled and although he found navigating the school was tricky he did think it was doable on his own.
World of Work
Due to being in hospital he missed valuable work experience but he got a lot of support from his guidance teacher about careers. He went on a college course where he learned interview skills, CV writing, money management and social skills before going on to do his NVQ in management which included a work placement.
After a short stint at Capability Scotland, Jordan is now a consultant for the charity Values into Action which supports people with learning disabilities or who are autistic to achieve their goals. He interviews people about the support they get in their own jobs and advises organisations on what they should be providing for their employees.
His message is to ask people what support they would want.
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